‘Scrapper Movie Review [Sundance 2023]: Lola Campbell And Harris Dickinson Charm In LowKey FatherDaughter Story

The Sundance Film Festival is known for bringing original indie stories to the big screen, and 2023 is no different. Charlotte Regan's Scrapper is a beautiful film with personality and a lot of heart. The simple yet touching story of a father and daughter is enhanced by performances that feel completely authentic.

© Showbiz CheatSheet "Scrapper" Movie Review Rated 3.5 stars

'Scrapper' follows the sudden appearance of an estranged father

© Provided by Showbiz CheatSheet LR. Harris Dickinson as Jason and Lola Campbell as Georgie Courtesy of Chris Harris/Sundance Institute

Georgie (Lola Campbell), a bright 12-year-old girl, lives alone in a flat on the outskirts of London after her mother dies. She thought she was going to live with her uncle, deceiving all parts of the system, including social workers. Meanwhile, Georgie works with her friend Ali (Alin Uzu) to steal bicycles.

One day, her father, Jason ( Triangle of Grief, Harris Dickinson), shows up unannounced and immediately starts playing a game. However, Georgie doesn't even know him and they don't see each other until now. Georgie questions Jason's motives after suddenly deciding to return to his life, believing he doesn't need an adult to help him.

Freedom and solitude

Scrapper begins by saying, "It takes a village to raise a child," but Reagan immediately says, "I can raise myself, thanks." Georgie is an emotionally and physically independent girl, she develops her own system to keep her head above water. He knows the person who sells the stolen bikes to him and the clerks at the store. Georgie found a way to use voice recordings to make the social workers think they were talking to her uncle.

Georgie refused to accept alms and learned the value of hard work and a clean house. Regan's story consists of non-narrative characters that break the fourth wall to engage the audience and present a fuller picture of the main character. At first, Georgie seems to like her life, but she misses her own childhood. Without parents in his life, he is forced to take on the role of adults.

When Jason arrives, Georgie naturally wonders about his intentions. At first there seems to be no incentive for her to return, but telling social workers she lives alone leaves her with no choice but to let her stay. Scrapper follows a father as he tries to rebuild his relationship with his son because the closest thing to a parent is his smartphone with old videos of happy moments with his mother. But thanks to Jason, Georgie gets to see a side of her mother she never knew.

Scrapper is absolute joy.

© Provided by Showbiz CheatSheet Lola Campbell as Georgie | By Chris Harris/Sundance Institute

Regan brings visual flair to her epic Scrapper storyline. There are times when the tracks drag from the flowing rhythm, but the moments full of beauty are artistic and meaningful. Georgie acts like an adult in many ways, although these scenes show the audience that she still has the mind and imagination of a creative 12-year-old.

With her mother's death, she was unjustly robbed of a world that her father could never replace. However, there are some surprisingly tender scenes between Jason and Georgie that hit an emotional nerve, explaining what the Tooth Fairy is and the legend behind it. In a way, the film is about the restoration of childhood.

As Georgie, Campbell is infectious as she navigates the gap between her childhood wonder and the sense of maturity she needs to learn. Dickinson, meanwhile, is absolutely excellent as Jason, hitting every emotional beat. Scrapper is the equivalent of a warm hug, secretly creating characters that are easy to care for.

Read the original Showbiz cheat sheet article